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Little Sister Won't You Rope?
| | By: Melinda Clements | #12 Preliminary—Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds—Oklahoma City, Ok
Monday October 26, 2009
By Melinda Clements
In some ways Sarah Ingle always aspired to be a world champion barrel racer. However, with two older brothers that has proved hard to do. They have repeatedly pushed her to rope. Little did she realize she would come to be a champion team roper and it was all because her two older brothers would not give up.
When the #12 Preliminary Roping at the 2009 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping kicked into gear at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds arena Sarah was a little more than nervous. Things were stressful. A lot was expected of her. It was only her third time to even rope at a USTRC Team Roping and this one was the best of all, the Finals.
She had more than a couple of things on her mind. Praise God for every little success, be confidant, and trust her brother Matt would take care of the details. The pair had already struggled; the day before the roping had been a tedious and somewhat frustrating. With some effort the pair regrouped and their game plan suddenly changed in a way Sarah could grasp and make work.
“Rope one steer at a time,” Matt had told her. “You have the best head horse. You have the speed and I will take care of the rest.” Aren’t older brothers phenomenal? They seem to have the answer to everything. Sarah was still nervous but her focus had changed and she began to pull it all together.
“I just had a feeling we might win something today,” Sarah said with a confidence that belied her nervousness. Apparently, she had an inside track to something greater than herself and she just gave it all to “Him” and knew things would be okay.
Twenty-three teams came back in the short go round of the #12 Preliminary with only a little over one second separating the first place and tenth place teams. It had been a tough, tight competitive roping and the short go round would follow suit.
Sarah Ingle and her brother Matt were the second high team back. It was an awesome place to be and Sarah was so proud. She just gave God all the praise for getting this far. She and her brother had roped well and second high team back was a great accomplishment all in and of itself. Not too bad for a barrel racer turned team roper.
As the pair watched the short go round unfold Sarah anxiously kept her mind on “one steer at a time.” She tried not to think about all those days her brothers made her rope. When the third high team back, Brian Potter and Andrew Jeffers, posted a 7.92 on their short round steer to take the lead Sarah took a deep breath.
“I can do this,” she muttered under her breath. The pair needed a 7.96 to take the lead away from Potter and Jeffers. As she rode into the box she was counting on God, her horse and her brother Matt. They were all pulling for her.
When Sarah nodded everything fell into place and she didn’t even have to think about “roping one steer at a time.” All the pushing and help her brothers had given her just became second nature and when the clock stopped they had a run of 7.66 to take the lead in the #13 Preliminary. Second place was not bad and $10,700 was a great pay off for a rookie and her brother.
There was one team to go and Stacy Kropik and Billy Bob Brown were set to give it their best. However, as things happen in team roping on occasion the pair failed to make a qualified run and suddenly the Ingle team were staring straight into first place of the #13 Preliminary for $17,000 and Martin Championship Trophy Saddles and a National Shoot Out Spot. Sarah couldn’t believe it and Matt was ecstatic.
“I was so happy,” Matt Ingle said. “To win this roping is awesome and to win it with a family member just makes it even more special. Sarah has just been roping about three years and this is only her third US roping. Our dad gives us a really hard time but we have showed him we can rope.”
“I told Matt this morning I had a feeling we would win today,” Sarah said with a shy smile.
“And her feeling was right,” Matt agreed. “It is just the most awesome thing.”
Sarah Ingle may be a rookie but she is fast coming of age. With the help of her brothers she is headed down the road to a team roping future. At sixteen she has blossomed and her future looks good as she debuted at this year’s 2009 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.
“I just praise God for all my success,” Sarah said. “It all worked out because of who I am through him.” Sarah Ingle is definitely on the right path. If the #12 Preliminary is any indication we have not seen the last of this Ingle brother-sister duo.
Posted: Oct.27, 2009 |
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